History
Athletics is among the most ancient of sports, contested at every Commonwealth and Olympic Games and tracing its origins back further than the first Ancient Olympics in 776BC.
The Commonwealth Games Athletics program includes the following disciplines:
* Track and Field
* Walks
* Marathon
Track and Field
Track and Field events can generally be divided into three categories - running, jumping and throwing. Running events include sprints (100m, 200m, 400m), middle distance (800m, 1500m) and long distance (3000m Steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m) as well as hurdles events and relays. Jumping events include Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump and Pole Vault, while throwing events include Discus, Shot Put, Javelin and Hammer Throw. The Men's Decathlon and Women's Heptathlon include a combination of events.
Walks
Race walking is a special long-distance race event in Athletics in which the participants must walk. Walkers are expected to maintain good form and are penalized for bending the knee as it passes under the body or having no foot-to-ground contact.
Marathon
The Marathon is a long-distance running event, taking place over a course of 42.195km in length.